For the second consecutive year, the NHL voted to abandon its usual all-star game format of Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference in favor of a game pitting the North American all-stars vs. the rest of the world's all-stars.

Starters were chosen by fan vote while reserves were selected by the NHL's Hockey Operations Department, after consultation with NHL general managers. Head coaches whose teams had the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference (World) and Western
Conference (North America) on Dec. 29 were named all-star head coaches.

Defensemen Mattias Norstrom and Mattias Ohlund were added to the World team as injury replacements for Uwe Krupp and Kenny Jonsson. Teppo Numminen replaced Krupp in the starting lineup. Viktor Kozlov was injured and did not play.

Left wing Luc Robitaille and goalie Ron Tugnutt were added to the North American team as injury replacements for Steve Yzerman and Curtis Joseph, respectively. Eric Lindros replaced Yzerman in the starting lineup.